Awning



AjBRUNs AWNING 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 j 019m maw s Y N R W O N w A s. rw,

A. BRUNS Aug. 26, 1941.

AWNING Filed Oct. 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ma ma c af :M4/w1 ATTORNEYS A. BRUNS Aug. 26, 1941.

AWNING 3 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 9, 1936 INVENTOR (5mm Z/CKJ /fmv/ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AWNING August Bruns, Richmond Hill, N. Y. Application October 9, 1936, Serial No. 104,801

(ci. 156-15) i 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved awning.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the type of awning which is shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,817,126 dated August 4, 1931.

Another object of my invention is tok provide an awning which, when extended and in use, will furnish some illumination to the room which is protected by the awning.

Another object of my invention is to provide an awning having a series of awning members, each member having a general parabolic shape.

Another object of my invention is to provide an awning of strong and durable construction which can be readily collapsed and extended.

Another object of my invention is to provide an awning which can be collapsed into the form of a protective curtain, so as to protect windows or the like against injury.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended to generally explain the s ame without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section showing the improved awning, the upper awning members being in extended position, the lower awning members being shown in substantially collapsed position, and closely assembled.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. l, taken at the lefthand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of an arm and sleeve which form part of the means for extending the awning members, and holding them in extended position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of igs. 5, 6 and 'l are respectively fragmentary detail views, on the lines 5, 6-6 and 'I-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation showing one of the awning members in the extended position, together with certain accessory parts.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view partially in elevation, showing a modification of the invention, whereby mechanism for extending or collapsing the awning can be manipulated from the inside of a room or the like.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2-'|2 of connection with a window having4 a frame I. The

awning members A can be made of any suitable metal or other material. I prefer to make the awning members A of rigid metal having a mirror reecting surface. Said awning members A can be made of any suitable non-rusting metal which has a natural `mirror refiecting surface or which can be provided with a non-rusting mirror reiiecting surface. Both the inner and outer surfaces of each awning member have as high a degree of reflection as is practical.

Each awning member A has preferably the contour of a part of a paraboloid, although the invention is not limited to this shape.

If desired, each awning member A can be provided at each side edge thereof, with anges 2, which may be of any desired depth. Said flanges 2 may be integral with, or may be rigidly attached to said awning members A and said anges 2 can also be made of metal having inner and outer surfaces having maximum reiiecting power,

-if desired. The lower end of each awning member is rolled so as to provide a sleeve 3 which extends along the entire bottom edge of each awning member.

Two rods 4 are associated with each said rolled sleeve 3. Each of said rods 4 has an extension 4a-which is located within the sleeve 3 and the adjacent inner ends of said extensions 4a in a sleeve 3, are spaced from each other.

Said rod 4 can be made of any suitable rigid metal. The inner lateral end of each rod 4 extends slidably into a sleeve 5. v

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of' each rod 4 is provided with an oifset projection 4b and v the sleeve 5 has a longitudinal slot 5a. so that the inner end-wall of the slot 5a serves as a stop for the projection 4b, so as to limit the sliding movement of the rod 4 relative to the sleeve 5, in one direction.

The sleeve 5 can be made by rolling together the edges of a channel member having a longitudinal slot, so as to connect the members 4 and 5 in the manner shown in Fig. 3, while permitting free sliding movement ofthe member 4 relative t to the member 5.

Adjacent its inner end, the walls of slot 5a are provided with a pair of upstandlng and perforated lugs 5b. A rod 6 passes through thewith a pair of rollers 1 and 1a, which can turn on said rod 8. After the rod 6 has been passed through the pairs of lugs 5b, said rollers 1 and 1a can be connected in any suitable manner to the rod 8 and suitable means are provided for retaining the rollers 1 and 1a on the rod 8, in the spaced relationship shown in Fig. 3.

For example, spacing collars 8 can be provided between the rollers 1 and 1a and the rod 6 may be provided with any suitable means for preventing any substantial movement of the rollers Tand 1a in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 6.

Each side of the window frame is provided with a vertical guide channel 8 having a vertical guide opening III. The spacing collars 8 move up and down adjacent the edges of the walls of the openings I and the rollers 1a remain ex" ternal to the channels 8, and rollers 1 are locatedwithin said channels. l

The rollers 1 and 1a can turn freely relative to channels-9. Their inner surfaces may be spaced slightly from the intermediate walls of channels 8.

At its upper end each awning member A is rolled so as to provide a sleeve 3a, and the rod 6 of each awning member is passed through the top sleeve 3a of the adjacent lower awning member.

' An assembly is thus provided whereby the awnings can be moved outwardly to the operative position when the rods 8 are moved downwardly.

Likewise the awning members can be moved to their inner or collapsed position, and moved upwardly, when the rods 8 are moved upwardly. The top rod 6a is held against downward movement by means of brackets I I.

As shown in Fig. 2, each bracket II has-a top flange IIa and a bottom horizontal flange IIb. The bottom flange IIb is perforated and the top rod 8a is bent downwardly at each end thereof so that said downwardly bent ends passthrough the openings in a pair of flanges I Ib.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom flange II b of each bracket I I is provided with a pair of perforated upstanding lugs I2, and a cotter pin can be passed through the perforations of each said pair of lugs, in order to hold the top rod 6a firmly in position.

Stop pins I are rigidly secured to one wall of the channel 3 so as to stop the downward movement of the rods 6, as illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 1. When each sleeve 5 has its inner end contacting with the associated stop pin, the awning member A is in extended operative position.

When the awning members A are moved upwardly, the sleeve 5 can turn on rods 6 so that the inner ends of sleeve 5 pass the stop pins I5.

When the awning members are in the extended position illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 1, the rods 4 have been moved inwardly relative to the sleeves 5, until the stop ends 4b of said rods 4 abut the rods 6.

When the awning members are in the collapsed position which is shown in the lower part of Fig. 1, the projections 4b abut the end-walls of the slots 5a, this being the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the device is provided with a top shaft I6. Said shaft I6 has its ends located within and connected to sleeves I1 and I'la, by means of set screws I8 and I8a. Said sleeves I1 and I1a are connected to jack shafts I9 and Isa, by means of set screws 20 and 20a. The'ilack shafts I3 and I8a are mounted in bearings which are carried by the brackets II.

As shown in Fig. 4, the vertical flanges of brackets II are perforated. Externally threaded bushings 2I and 2Ia have their shanks located respectively in said perforations. Said bushings are respectively held in position by nuts 22c and 22d. The jack shafts I8 and I9a are provided with sprockets 22 and 22a at the ends thereof. This construction makes it possible to adJust the device to windows of 'different widths.

Chains 23 and 23a mesh with the sprockets 22 and 22a. The lower end of the chain 23 passes 4around and meshes with a sprocket 2l which is mounted on an idler shaft 28. The idler shaft 28 is held turnably in position by means of an externally threaded bushing 2l whichpasses through the inner wall of the adjacent channel 8 and said bushings 25 is held in position by means of a lock nut 21. The lower end ofthe chain 23a passes around and meshes dow. The shaft 28 passes tumably through a bearing 30 whose inner wall is threaded. A bushing 3I is threaded into the bearing 38. Said bushing 3l has a head 3Ia so that it serves to clamp the bearing 30 to one of the walls of the adjacent channel.

As shown in Fig. 4, the inner face of the head 3Ia is provided with locking teeth 32. 'I'he adjacent face of the sprocket 24a is provided with corresponding pins 33 which can enter between the locking teeth 32.

A blade spring 34 is connected to the adjacent face of the sprocket 24a, and said blade spring 34 has its ends pressed against a wall of the adjacent channel so that said spring 34 urges the sprocket 24a into locking engagement with the head 3Ia of the bushing 3I. This locks the shaft 28 against movement. However, if it is desired to `operate the awning, the shaft 28 can be pushed inwardly so as to release the pins of sprocket 24a from the teeth of member 3Ia. The shaft 28 can then be turned so as tooperate the chains 23 and 23a.

One of the runs of each of the chains 23 and 23a is connected to a slidable member 35.

As shown in Fig. 8, this slidable member 35 has a general T-shape in cross section, so that it is provided with ears which slide upon the walls of the adjacent channel 9. The head of this member 35 is tapered so that it cannot move horizontally relative to the channel.

As shown in Fig. 8, each of the members 35 is provided with an integral inner wall 35a, which is provided with lugs 35h, which are connected to links of the adjacent chain.

As shown in Fig. 4, the upper part of each slide member 35 is provided with horizontally projecting perforated lugs 31, which are also shown in Fig. 8. These perforated lugs 31 are integral with a web 38.

vertically movable struts 38 depend from the l bottom rod, 8 and said struts 38 may be rigidly secured to the slides 35. The lowermost awning member A is provided with a rolled bottom edge so as to provide a sleeve 3, in the manner previously stated, and bent rods 40 have their ends spaced from each other and located within said bottom sleeve 3 of the lowermost awning member A. The inner ends of said rods 40 are rigidly and non-turnably connected -to a lateral bolt 4i which is rigidly secured to said struts 38.

Hence, when the device is collapsed by moving the awning members A upwardly to their maximum extent, the rods 40 remain laterally projecting in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that when the awning device is fully collapsed, it forms an outwardly tilted hood at the top of the window frame.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1l and Fig. 12, Fig. 11 shows a side wall S of the window frame. In this embodiment an operating shaft 42 is utilized which projects through the window frame into the room.

A worm 43 is connected to said shaft 42 and this meshes with a worm wheel 44. The worm wheel 44 is mounted upon a shaft 45 which is supported in a bearing bracket 46, said bracket 48 being secured to a wall of the channel 9 by means of bolts 41. The worm and worm gear provide a self-locking turning device. Otherwise the construction is essentially the same as that in the previous embodiment.

If desired the members A can be curved only in the longitudinal direction, and their lateral surface elements (parallel to the plane of the paper in Fig. 2) may be straight lines.

Referring to the two awning .members shown at the upper part of Fig. l, light is reflected from the outer mirror surface of the lower awning member, to the inner mirror surface of the upper awning member, which reflects the light into the room. If the awning members have true paraboloid shapes, and assuming that the light which is reflected is sunlight which consists of parallel rays, said light will be generally diffused by the outer surface of the lower awning member.

Hence the light will be reflected into the room while generally diffusing the same and the accompanying heat rays so that the room can be given a certain amount of illumination while the awning members are in the operative position.

In order to close or collapse the awning device, the slides 35 are moved upwardly until all the awning members assume the general position of the three bottom awning members indicated in Fig. 1. All the awning members then have parts thereof abutting each other and they form a hood at the top of the window casing. The plane of the window to which the awning device is connected may be designated as vthe plane of said awning device.

As shown at the lower part of Fig. l, when the awning members are collapsed, the side flanges 2 space said awning members from each other. The side flanges 2 therefore reinforce the curved awning members A and also act to space said awning members when the device is collapsed so as to prevent said awning members from being deformed in case excessive force is used for moving the awning members upwardly to the lla sed sition. cI llave lsliown preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

For convenience the guide means 9 may be considered as forming part of the window frame.

For convenience the rodsv 6 may be 'designated as first supporting members for the awning members and it will be noted that the rods 8 of the bottom awning member and of the intermediate awning members, are vertically movable relative to the rod 8a of the top awning member. The members 4 may be designated as outwardly located telescopic members, and the members 5 may be designated as the inwardly located telescopic members.

The telescopic assembly shown in Fig. 1, may be generally designated as outwardly located holding members which are turnably connected to the bottom edges of their respective awning members. Said holding members have their outer ends movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the window frame.

I claim:

1. An awning device comprising a top awning member and a bottom awning member and intermediate awning members, each of said awning members havingits upper edge connected to a rst supporting member, said first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member being verti cally movable relative to the first supporting member of the top awning member, the lower ends of the intermediate awning members being turnably connected to outwardly located telescopic members, each outwardly located telescopic member being slidably associated with an inwardly located telescopic member, the inner end of each inwardly located telescopic member being turnably connected to the ilrst supporting member of the next lower awning member, guide means adapted to-conne the movement of the first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member in a predetermined plane, and means adapted to hold the first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member spaced from each other and spaced from the first supporting member of the top awning member.

2. An awning device comprising a top awning member and a bottom awning member and intermediate awning members, each of said awning members having its upper edge connected to a first supporting member, said rst supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member being vertically movable in a predetermined plane relative to the first supporting member of the top awning member, the lower ends of the intermediate awning members being turnably connected to outer telescopic members, each outer telescopic member being slidably associated with an inner telescopic member, the inner end of each telescopic member being turnably connected to the first supporting member of the next lower awning member, the lower end of the bottom awning member being connected to rigid supporting means of constant length which extend outwardly from said plane, the inner ends of said rigid supporting means being vertically movable, guide means adapted to confine the movement of the first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member in said plane, means adapted to hold the first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member spaced from each other and spaced from the iirstsupporting member of the .top awning member.

3. An awning device comprising a top awning member and a bottom awning member and intermediate awning members, each of said awning members having its upper edge connected to a first supporting member, said first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member being vertically movable relative to the first supporting member of the top awning member, the lower ends oi' the intermediate awning members being turnably connected to outer telescopic members, each outer telescopic member being slidably associated with an'inner telescopic member, the inner end of each inner telescopic member being turnably connected to the rst supporting member of the next lower awning member, the awning members having side anges, the side flanges of each awning member substantially abutting the outer surface of the next lower adjacent awning member, when the device is collapsed, guide means for the rst supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member and adapted to confine their movement in a predetermined plane, means adapted to hold the first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member spaced from each other and spaced from the first supporting member of the top awning member.

4. An awning device comprising a top awning member and a bottom awning member and intermediate awning members, each of said awning members having its upper edge connected to a first supporting member, said first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member being vertically movable relative to the first supporting member of the top awning member, the lower ends of the intermediate awning members being turnably connected to outwardly located telescopic members, each outwardly located telescopic member being slidably associated with an inwardly located telescopic member, the inner end of each inwardly located telescopic member being turnably connected to the first supporting member of the next lower awning member, each inwardly located telescopic member comprising an outer sleeve portion andan inward channel portion, each said outwardly located telescopic member having its inner end laterally bent and slidable only in said channel extension, guide means adapted to guide and to confine the movement of the rst supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member in a predetermined plane, means adapted to hold the first supporting members of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning membervspaced from each other and spaced from the first 'supporting member of the top awning member.

5. An awning device having a top awning member and a bottom awning member and one or more intermediate awning members, each said awning member having an inner end and an outer end, each said inner end being located above the respective outer end, upstanding guide means adapted to guide the movement of the inner ends of the awning members which are located below the top awning member in a predetermined upstanding plane, the inner end of the top awning member being turnably connected to a top supporting member, means adapted to hold said top supporting member from movement below a predetermined level, movable slidemeans mounted to move up-and-down in said plane, second supporting means rigidly connected to said slide-means and inclined outwardly relative to said plane and connected to the outer end of said bottom awning member and holding said bottom awning member inclined outwardly relative to said plane, when said bottom awning member is moved up and down, the outer end of the top awning member and the outer end of each intermediate awning member being respectively pivotally connected to supplemental supporting means which extend outwardly from said plane and whose outer ends are movable inwardly and outwardly movable relative to said plane, the` inner ends of the intermediate awning members and of the bottom awning member being respectively turnably connected to additional slide means which are mounted on and which are movable up and down relative to said guide means, and means adapted to hold said awning members spaced from each other.

6. A rigid awning louvre having its upper end turnably connected to a first supporting member, guide means adapted to conne the movement of said rst supporting member in a predetermined upstanding plane, said rst supporting member being movable relative to said guide 'means, the lower end of said awning member being connected to rods which are lateral relative to said plane, said lateral rods being slidable in sleeves which have inner channel extensions, said lateral rods having stop means which are adapted to abut the inner end wall of said' channel extensions, the inner ends of said channel extensions being turnably connected. to a rod which is vertically movable, said guide means being adapted to confine the movement of said vertically movable rod in said plane, said stop means abutting the inner end walls of said channel extensions when said vertically movable rod is moved upwardly to a first predetermined position relative to the bottom edge of said awning member, said stop `means abutting said vertically movable rod when said vertically movable rod is in a second predetermined position relative to the lower end of said awning member.

7. A rigid awning louvre having its upper end turnably connected to a first -supporting member, guide means adapted to confine the movement of said flrst supporting member in a predetermined upstanding plane, said first supportingY member being movable relative to said guide means, the lower end of said awning member being connected to rods which are lateral relative to said plane, said rods being slidable in sleeves, said sleeves being turnably connected to a rod which is vertically movable, said guide means being adapted to confine the movement of said vertically movable rod in said plane, said rods and sleeves having stop means which are shaped and located to permit the rods to move inwardly freely relative to said sleeves and to limit the movement of said rods outwardly relal tive to said sleeves.

AUGUST BRUNS. 

